"We should consider the possibility of allowing people to buy alcohol only if they pay by bank cards and limit the number of alcohol sales licenses – all of the instruments will allow monitoring whether the alcohol consumption levels in Lithuania are declining. If the result is positive, we will be able to give up our plans of establishing specialized stores," Skvernelis said in a press release issued by the Lithuanian Business Confederation.

Stasys Kropas, president of the Lithuanian Banks' Association, told 15min.lt he supported the Skvernelis' idea but acknowledged it would require investments. Commercial banks operating in Lithuania seek card payments to replace cash operations, as the country's level of payments by bank cards is the lowest in the Baltic states.